ORYX Photo Tours Reviews 114

Uganda The Ultimate Adventure
In February 2024 three friends and I took a private photography tour to Uganda. The trip was organized by Oryx. The main goal was to see Chimpanzees and Gorillas but there was a great variety other wildlife on the tour. We started the trip off in Mabamba Swamp in search of the elusive Shoebill. This is a prehistoric looking bird that stands 4 ½ feet tall. There are only 10 of them in the swamp but our guide was able to find one for us. Afterward we were off to Kibale Forest to see the Chimpanzees. We did 3 treks seeing and photographing the chimps up close. There were so many it was impossible to say how many were in each family. Two of the treks were just one hour each with a very habituated chimp family. The third trek was with a chimp family that was still being habituated. We spent four hours with them getting a fun insight into chimpanzees daily activities. After 2 days with the chimps we were off to Queen Elizabeth National Park. On the way we did a boat ride on Kazinga Channel. This was fantastic. We saw so many hippos, elephants and a great variety of birds. We spent a couple days in Queen Elizabeth Park. The best part of our time in the park was seeing numerous Elephants. Now we were ready for the highlight of the trip the Gorillas. We traveled to Biwindi Impenetrable Forest. We did 3 Gorilla treks visiting three different Gorilla families. Each family had 9-13 members a silverback often a blackback, females and one or more infants. Each encounter was unique and provided different photography settings. There was a lot of interactions of the family members which so much fun to watch and experience. Even though we were only allowed one hour with each Gorilla family our memories will last forever.
The trip was very well designed and organized by Oryx. All of the lodgings were very nice. Beautiful rooms and settings. The food was well prepared and a nice variety. Our Oryx guide on the trip was Dale Morris. I have been on several trips with Dale. Dale is on top of everything, Behind the scenes he is making sure everything runs smoothly. He is a fine photographer and is always there to help if needed. He is constantly coming up with unique ways to take a photo to make it really special.
We had a fantastic trip. We all highly recommend a visit to Uganda traveling on an Oryx tour led by a superb guide Dale Morris. We always felt very safe and in good hands on the entire tour.

Vic Nemeth MD

Phenomenal guides, great lodging, wonderful food made this trip amazing.

I'd be happy to provide a review of the Black Leopard Safari and tour leader, Charlotte.

Firstly, the Black Leopard Safari was an absolutely fantastic experience. From start to finish, the tour was incredibly well-organized, and the itinerary was packed with amazing wildlife sightings and stunning landscapes.

One of the highlights of the tour was the knowledgeable and passionate tour leader, Charlotte. Charlotte was an exceptional guide and photographer with an amazing knowledge of photography. Her enthusiasm and dedication to her work were contagious, and she was always eager to answer any questions we had and share her insights and stories about the wildlife we encountered.

Charlotte also had a deep respect for the local communities and cultures, and her interactions with them were always thoughtful and respectful. She had a talent for connecting with the people we met, which made our interactions with them all the more meaningful.

In terms of the logistics, everything was well-planned and executed seamlessly. The accommodations were comfortable and located in beautiful settings, the meals were delicious and varied, and the transportation was reliable and comfortable.

Overall, I highly recommend the Black Leopard Safari and would encourage anyone looking for an unforgettable adventure in the wilds of Africa to consider joining one of their tours. And if you're lucky enough to have Charlotte as your tour leader, you're in for a real treat!

This trip exceeded my expectations and I came back not only with great photos but also with enthusiasm for what I experienced. Our photo guide Charlotte was knowledgeable in organization and photography tips. We were lucky with the wildlife viewing, especially the black leopard and we were able to focus on that. In addition, the lodge was very friendly and familiar, with good food and great surroundings. The guides were sensitive and correct towards the animals. Looking forward to next experiences with Oryx Photo Tours.

My tour in Uganda was excellent. My guideCharlotte Arthun was very patient, helpful and knowledgeable and a delight to travel with. She provided several tips on how to improve my photo compositions in the jungle. Our local Uganda guide, Moses, was also a pleasure to be with. The camps were comfortable, food was good and the treks and drives were everything I hoped they would be.

It was while on my first private Oryx tour with Dale Morris in Londolozi, South Africa, that the idea of a Madagascar photo trip germinated. It took three years, but I finally got to experience another trip of a lifetime with Dale in that magical place, photographing all my targeted species in the impossibly finite time window I had given Oryx.

Where to start? I cannot thank Nicolette and Vanessa at Oryx enough for their patience in putting together this amazing tour. For those who are unaware, Madagascar is no easy place to plan predictable travel! The fact that all the moving parts - interior flights, hotels, safe food, competent drivers, comfortable vehicles, local guides, boat trips, park access, etc. - came together for a perfect experience is a testament to their expertise and competence. Once I told Dale what I wanted to do, the Oryx team got it done.

A special shout-out to Nonotinamalala – “Nono” – Dale’s right-hand man in Madagascar, who used his wizardry with Air Madagascar and countless other contacts to ensure smooth sailing – or hiking – or flying – or driving. It was fascinating to watch them work so well together to get the job done.

Once I landed in Tana, Dale made sure I was comfortable and ready for the journey ahead. From our time in Kruger, I knew I would be in good hands. He is an amazingly talented photographer, but just as important, is able to expertly share this knowledge of wildlife and photography with his guests while in the field, guaranteeing the best photos possible. While I have been on over 30 photo expeditions all over the world, I always know I will learn new techniques from Dale, and he sure did not disappoint on this trip.
Handling the challenges of Madagascar, attending to the desires and needs of his clients, and ultimately delivering the goods while maintaining a sense of humor and professionalism is no small feat!

My passion for wildlife photography tends to be species driven – the ultimate headache for tour leaders, as we all know that in nature, nothing is promised. I have to say that, with a little luck and a lot of Dale’s expertise, I was able to come away with stunning images of EVERY ONE of the critters on my Madagascar bucket list.

OK, Dale, where to next?

Dave Romea, Lambertville, NJ

This is my 7th trip with Oryx and that fact itself should stand as an outstanding testimonial! When booking with Oryx, you don’t have to worry about any of the arrangements or logistics, you can just be rest assured that it will all be well taken care of. This latest ‘Best of Mara’ Tour was no exception. We were extremely lucky in our sightings and witnessed some incredible encounters. One can never be certain with Nature, but we had a special experience every single day! Our guides and drivers were simply outstanding at getting us to where the action was.

Penny Robartes, with whom I have travelled many times and someone I consider a friend, is most generous with her skills and knowledge and is the most attentive photography lead you can ask for. She is truly a wonderful travel companion and teacher. Our accommodation for this trip was Alex Walker’s Serian Nkorombo Camp, a camp I had stayed at 5 years ago. Going back after all these years felt like a home coming, such was the warm welcome of the beautiful staff of the camp. We had the most wonderful and comfortable stay there.

Thank you Oryx for yet another unforgettable experience!

My first trip to the Pantanal with Oryx and Dale Morris was terrific. Dale and the wonderful local guide Sergio Freitas knew nearly everything I asked about the local wildlife, and if they didn't, they found out. Dale and Sergio went out of their way to find reclusive and camouflaged animals, able to do so through knowing the animals' behavior and the Pantanal itself so thoroughly.

The trip was well-planned -- except for the weather, which dropped fifty degrees F one night and brought torrential rain. (We dried out in a few days.) Food was plentiful and delicious, the lodges and the boat hotel were comfortable, and the group of photographers was companionable and pleasant.

I was using a new camera and shooting in manual for the first time. Every now and then, as I aimed at a potoo or a coiled anaconda, Dale would whisper, "If you use this ISO and that shutter speed, and stand exactly where I am standing now, Alison, you will get an excellent shot." And lo! he was exactly right: I'd get a sharp photo with open eyes and no stick coming out of the animal's head!

I enjoyed the trip to the Pantanal very much, and would urge anyone to travel with Dale Morris.

Dale Morris was our Oryx guide on a recent trip to the Pantanal in Brazil. This was either my 5th or 6th trip with Dale and I have 3 more with him in the works. It is hard to imagine there could be a better guide than Dale. He is extremely knowledgeable about the wildlife, a miracle worker with his camera and advice, and he can do some great animal impressions. You will be in excellent hands should you decide to travel with Oryx and Dale. I highly recommend him regardless of your level of photographic expertise.

I very much enjoyed my time on the 2022 Pantanal tour as I had when I was on the one in 2017. Both times Dale Morris was our the guide and photo expert. As always, Dale was a gem, and he was clearly happy and enthusiastic to be leading a tour after many months of COVID lockdown. I must add that the tour was made particularly enjoyable and educational with the participation of Sergio Freitas, PhD who served a most excellent and affable Brazilian language/logistics facilitator and fauna biology expert.

This year (2022) was much drier than 2017 with vastly less water along the Pantanal highway. Therefor, there were considerably (thousands?) less waterbirds (herons, egrets, terns, skimmers, etc ) as well as caimans near the road. Even so we had plenty of wildlife photo opportunities. All the lodge accommodations were very good, and the Brazilian food was plentiful. Our first lodge was particularly comfortable and provided twice per day drives in open safari-like vehicles that provided wonderful transits of the varied environment of the lodge's vast property. On the first day at this lodge - to everyone's surprise, we came upon a jaguar resting next to the dirt track. This was the first of more than a dozen (17?) different jaguars seen on the tour.

All but the first of jaguars were seen and photographed on the Rio Sao Lorenco river and several of its tributaries during the last five days of the tour. Our time on the Jacare - our boat hotel - was very pleasant in spite of the extremely atypical weather. Instead of 100F and bright sun on the river, we experienced several days of 50F with driving rain! It was certainly a macho/macha test to have rain pelting our bodies as we hunkered down in our open 4 meter uncovered boat as it sped at more than 30 mph along the river to get to our next jaguar photography opportunity. All in all, the outboard boats we rode in were very comfortable, stable and astonishingly fast. Our boat driver was highly skilled both on our sprints and in holding steady while maximizing our photographic opportunities.

To sum up, my friend Alison and I very much enjoyed the 2022 Pantanal tour. It was well planned and conducted with successful innovations adapted to the weather. The other participants were very friendly, courtious, and interesting to talk to. I have not counted up the number of separate species that I photographed and videoed, but there were a lot. I did get lots of good shots and video clips of my favorites - giant otters, a loping giant anteater, jaguars, and even two pairs of long-legged seriemas in a loud, pre-dawn territorial battle.

We contacted Oryx to arrange a special Kenyan holiday to celebrate my husband’s 40th birthday. We wanted to incorporate my husbands love of wildlife photography and a family friendly safari for our daughters (aged 10, 7 and 4) first trip to Africa. They expertly put together an itinerary of a week at Diani beach followed by a night at Giraffe Manor then culminating in a 4 night safari at Sala’s Camp in the Masai Mara.

From the moment of first contact the Oryx team were incredible. Vanessa answered our millions of questions quickly and comprehensively. We emailed her about everything from Covid requirements to local currency and she always replied pretty much immediately and with a knowledge that demonstrated her experience within the travel industry.
Once we landed in Kenya it became even more obvious of the work that went on behind the scenes in the Oryx office. Each transfer was greeted by representatives on the ground and we could really relax into the holiday safe in the knowledge that everything had been taken care of.

Marius guided us for our safari and proved once again he truly is the best in the business. Nothing was too much trouble and he not only provided extraordinary photo opportunities and guidance but his endless enthusiasm and energy meant the girls were constantly amazed and entertained by all the Masai Mara had to offer.

We have returned home with our hearts full of the most amazing memories and plans to book our next adventure with Oryx as soon as possible!!

it was my fourth time with Oryx Photo Tours: There is no better way to enjoy wildlife and to improve the own photographic skills. A small international group - all dedicated wildlife photographers - with a professional wildlife photographer. I learned a lot and saw amazing wildlife: Leopards was our main target - and we saw them every day! Hunting, stalking, resting, loving...
My pictures are now more interesting and breathtaking than ever before! The Oryx guides - in my case Penny Robartes (Inyati) and Mike Dexter (Madikwe) have been very inspiring and supportive.
I already plan my next wildlife photographic tour with Oryx!

I booked a tour in Chile through Oryx in April 2022. I paid over $10,000 for the tour. Only upon my personal inquiry did I find out all other guests cancelled due to Covid. I had received an email saying I would be reimbursed some of the money due to the photo expert Dale Morris being unable to go because it was not monetarily possible (it was a photographic tour). That was taken back once they found out I was traveling solo, although I paid the solo supplement (I received no refund). I was the only one on the Chile Pumas of Patagonia tour. My local guide David from Far South Expeditions was beyond wonderful, and I have nothing but great reviews for him. But when I looked on the Far South Expedition tour I found the same tour was offered for almost $5000 less. Oryx has terrible email communication; Nicolette is terrible. They even told me that they weren’t making a profit off sending a solo traveler to Chile, a straight up lie because they charged more than $4000. They had nothing to do with my hotel pre and post travel. I do not recommend Oryx at all. They rip you off. Look to travel with local companies. I travelled twice with Oryx and regret both times.

This private ORYX South Africa safari exceeded my expectations with amazing big cat sightings at MalaMala and Ngala. We chose to do this trip with Penny Robarts at the end of our private Kenya trip just before COVID 19 erupted across the world in February 2020. ORYX rescheduled our trip twice and we made it in May 2022.
It was worth the wait, and fantastic to travel and be guided by Penny who patiently coached my stumbles with my new camera to take images I could not have imagined possible.
We had fantastic lodges and driver/guides Pete and Barney. The local guides knowledge is brilliant and they work so hard to get us to see amazing fauna and flora of the area.
At the ORYX behind the scenes, Nicolette kept us well informed of changes in travel plans and rescheduling until Australia reopened its borders.
Thank you all at ORYX, especially Penny, and your partners for another fabulous safari and amazing more pinch me moments.

Third safari arranged by Oryx and with Marius. Went to Botswana with our two adult children and their spouses. Honestly, each time even more extraordinary than before. The team’s hard work planning the adventure and communication before and throughout the trip makes it easy to relax and appreciate the experience without any concern. That is very much appreciated with all the difficulties and uncertainties of long distance travel today, especially when off to Africa. And, the safari itself is turned into a meaningful, educational and fun experience by Marius’ knowledge, photo and guide skills and, even more so by his relentless good nature and real sense of friendship. He cared enormously that we had a great time and an experience we all could treasure forever. I would not even think of a photo safari with any other company and always will hope to coordinate so that we can be led by Marius. If I sound biased I admit I am: Completely prejudiced now by three of the greatest trips and adventures of my life, without any difficulties (the bumps are smoothed by Oryx and team before we even learn of them) and crowned by what I feel is a new and sincere friendship.

My recent private photographic trip to lower Zambezi National Park with Oryx Photo tours, was nothing less than incredible!
What an amazing destination. Game viewing extends to options to canoe and explore the river via boat as well as the conventional land cruiser.
I even got try my hand at fishing for a tiger fish…
Photographic opportunities were quite unique with the inlets from the Zambezi creating small oases in the bush for animals to drinks and feed at.
The expanse of the river also provides beautiful photographic opportunities of hippos and crocodile not to mention incredible sunsets and early morning light!
The winterthorn groves capture light in a way that makes for romantic bush scenes.
Wildlife is abundant and pristine.
All that’s left to say is I am counting the days until I can return.
Oryx managed all my trip requirements and took the stress of travel out of my trip.

I am already rebooked on another tour !

@jennybrown265wildlife

I had a fantastic trip in Madikwe. Our group was great with awesome camaraderie , similar interests in wildlife photography and outlook in life. It seems Oryx Photo tours is attracting really great people signing up for their tours :) The Bush House was just a perfect place to stay in Madikwe. The owners were so hospitable and warm in welcoming us and made our stay even better. The service from the staff was impeccable as well and really much appreciated. And of course the food they served were so good and healthy and you know it was prepared with heart and warmth. Kudos to the chef. I might have gained an extra pound or two :) The grounds of the property was just perfect for the holiday with well kept landscaping , flowery gardens and trees attracting a lot of birds as well. Just sitting there and basking on the the surroundings was just zen. The watering hole and the hide attracting herds of elephants, zebras , wildebeest, buffalos, warthogs was just a wonderful and exciting experience.

Mike Dexter was an excellent host and photo tour leader. He was there with us all the time in making our wildlife photo tour experience in Madikwe as fantastic and productive it can be. He has an eye in creating a remarkable photo when presented with an opportunity to a wildlife encounter, be it in low light, harsh light or beautifully well lit encounter. He actively directed and taught us how to approach and photograph the animal to create a story and a memorable photo as well. He made sure that we are all well positioned to get the best photo opportunity . I have created photos that I haven't had before and I am happy that i got them. As much as Mike is an impressive wildlife photographer /photo tour leader with vast knowledge of his field, he is also a great and kind person, very personable , level headed and humble man. It was a pleasure and privilege to be in this tour with him.

From the pre-departure correspondence to the luxurious lodge, food, and quality guide, this tour was fantastic. I was a non-photographer accompanying my husband and really enjoyed the game drives and excellent knowledge Mike shared with us throughout the adventure. The small group of 4 participants was perfect.

Excellent tour with Penny Robartes to South Africa. Penny provides excellent guidance to help improve photography and the local guides and accommodation were all excellent. Highly recommend Oryx Photo Tours

We just returned from another epic safari adventure with Marius Coetzee, founder and CEO of Oryx. We had 9 days at two wonderful properties...MalaMala and Londolozi, and as always Marius went above and beyond to make sure it was the most amazing experience possible. He is always focused on the guests experience and just "makes it all happen"....whether it's arranging a Special birthday breakfast in the bush or outdoor lunch and bubble bath on your deck.....or assisting the guide in positioning and repositioning dynamically the vehicle for the optimal photo opportunities, given the changing light and animal behavior...to advising us on camera settings and helping with our editing to optimize the beauty of our images. Marius does this all with great humor and warmth, filling the trip with endless giggles and fun, in addition to outstanding sightings and photo opportunities. No detail is overlooked and all of your needs are taken care of. No request is too small or too big---he works to satisfy every client request and does it with grace and without any fuss.

Traveling with Oryx and Marius is pure joy and adds a dimension to our travels that has led us to coin the phrase "Marius Magic"!

This was our fifth trip with Marius and we have seen a big improvement in our photographic results travelling with him. We can't wait for our next October adventure with Oryx and Marius.